Traveling the country to see how community groups fight hunger on a local level, U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, co-chair of the House Hunger Caucus, visited the South Bronx recently.
Local nonprofit Phipps Neighborhoods invited McGovern, a Massachusetts Democrat, so he could learn about the work of the Bronx Impact Food Access Collective (BIPAC) and how its efforts align with his larger national platform on hunger and food insecurity. On Feb. 23, they toured Hunts Point and visited Boogie Down Grind, a fruit vendor to buy produce and Chilis on Wheels, a plant-based food distribution nonprofit.
BIFAC connects people to resources for food delivery, pantries and nutrition education.
BIFAC studied food insecurity in the South Bronx from 2019 to 2021 and made several recommendations, including that New York City have a commitment to explore new ways to expand farmers’ markets and other programs that bring fresh fruits and vegetables to underserved communities; a commitment to pursue federal and state action to expand and improve SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and other food benefits; and a commitment to providing expanded supports to cooperative businesses and workforce development efforts, particularly those which promote access to fresh produce and/or sustainability in low-income communities.
